Roxy Marj Barrus

My dream is to live in the english countryside one day, but for now I get to be in the cozy woods next to Mt. Hood, Oregon. I relish in taking long walks with my husband and our 13 year old dog, hiking,cooking/baking and making together. I’m a food/movie & craft buff, not snob…yes, there is a difference…and I love meeting new people and learning new things.

I was born and raised in Tri-Cities Washington. When I was 19, I moved out to NYC and there I worked as a nanny for 9 years, as well as received my B.F.A from New School University [Parsons School of Design] where I studied fashion, my emphasis being in childrens-wear. After graduating from school in 2009, I moved out to Salt Lake City Utah, a year later met my husband and two years later made a full time go of my brand Roxy Marj. Roxy Marj is a children’s bedroom decor brand utilizing my illustrations and unique designs. I have been lucky to see my business grow successfully into a brand that is recognized in many different countries and that has created lasting children’s products that so many kids have already started growing up with.

Most people say they don’t have regrets looking back, but I do. I wish I would have studied illustration in college instead of fashion. When we finally declared our majors Sophomore year, I soon learned that fashion wasn’t as big of a passion for me as illustration was. I was trying to decide if I should switch majors, but what ultimately made me stick with the fashion program was the fact that I dropped out of highschool. I kept feeling that I needed to stay with fashion [finish something!] and if I liked illustration still after graduating, then I could pursue a masters degree. However, it was halfway through my Sophomore year that I realized I could easily start illustrating on the side if I wanted. Soon after that realization, I snagged a freelance illustration job with a company in NYC. This was the motivation that I needed to keep doing what I was doing. I don’t have any proper training in illustration other than what I learned in my fashion illustration classes. Telling a story, showing emotion in characters…these are all things I am still learning to do. Luckily I have been able to test out my characters through my business and create products that have proven to be an instant attraction to kids.

I hope to someday write and illustrate a children’s book that will take me to faraway libraries, read the book aloud to a room full of tiny ragamuffins and have a ton of Q&A’s! Till then, you can find me and my characters most likely baking cookies or a cake together. ;)